HONOLULU — Kauai’s sole licensed cannabis dispensary received the green light from the state Department of Health on Friday to open a second retail facility on the island.

Green Aloha Ltd.’s application for a new retail center at 2827 Poipu Road in Koloa was approved on Friday and the dispensary wasted no time, opening the location to the public on Saturday.

“Green Aloha’s new dispensary will provide much needed access to patients on the south side of Kauai,” said Liam Gimon, supervisor of the state’s medical cannabis licensing program.

Medical cannabis is available to people certified by a physician or advanced practice registered nurse to have a medical condition that can benefit from its use and registered with the state’s Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Program.

According to program supervisor Tami Whitney, most adult participants use medical cannabis for relief from severe pain. The main conditions reported for participants under the age of 18 are seizures and severe pain.

A bill that would extend unrestricted access to medical marijuana to anyone of the age of 65 died in the Hawaii Senate committee last legislative session.

As of Aug. 31, 34,093 in-state patients and 2,811 caregivers were registered statewide. Under state law, registered patients can buy up to four ounces of medical cannabis over 15 consecutive days and a maximum of eight ounces over a 30-day period.

With Green Aloha’s new facility, there are now eight licensed dispensaries operating 21 licensed retail centers on four islands.